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McGill Arctic Research Station - MARS ( 79 o 25’N; 89 o 35’W )

The McGill Arctic Research Station (MARS), Expedition Fjord, Axel Heiberg Island: Scientific and Logistical Overview. McGill Arctic Research Station - MARS ( 79 o 25’N; 89 o 35’W ). McGill CARN Site ( 79 o 24’N; 89 o 36’W ). McGill Arctic Research Station.

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McGill Arctic Research Station - MARS ( 79 o 25’N; 89 o 35’W )

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  1. The McGill Arctic Research Station (MARS), Expedition Fjord, Axel Heiberg Island: Scientific and Logistical Overview

  2. McGill Arctic Research Station - MARS (79o25’N; 89o35’W ) McGill CARN Site (79o24’N; 89o36’W ) McGill Arctic Research Station

  3. Established in 1960 and operated continuously with support from PCSP, the McGill Arctic Research Station (MARS) represents one of the most scientific sites in the high Arctic.

  4. MARS – McGill Arctic Research Station Axel Heiberg Island Location79º 22.94’N; 91º 16.32’W on east Axel Heiberg Island - Polar Desert < 100 mm ppn - Mean air temp –17.4º - Extreme min -58ºC - Extreme max +21º - 60% of Axel is polar desert and localized tundra - 40% of the Island in ice cap or glacier ice - Permafrost 400-600 m deep Eastern Sverdrup BasinSedimentary geology - 50+ diapir structures

  5. McGill Arctic Research Station • Est. 1959 – Glaciology, Geology and Climatology • 30+ graduate thesis, 2 rigid structures, 3 weatherhavens and various temporary shelters

  6. McGill Arctic Research Station: Mission statement ·To promote and physically support northern research. ·To provide opportunities for graduate student training and research in the North. ·To provide affordable room and board for students actively involved in arctic science. ·To stimulate student interest in the north and train (through undergraduate courses and undergraduate and graduate research) scientifically skilled individuals who will become the next generation of northern scientists. ·To advise McGill and non-McGill northern scientists and students on northern research questions. ·To facilitate partnerships and collaborations between McGill researchers with other northern researchers and northern communities. ·To stimulate collaborative integrated research which addresses questions of cold environment science, global change, astrobiology and planetary analogue studies. ·To act as a focus for long-term environmental observation, ·To seek new and innovative sources of funding, to establish solid financial basis for continued operation through grants applications and private funding.

  7. McGill/CSA CARN Facility Rougly 8 km from existing camp, capacity 10-12 persons Currently 2 structures

  8. New Operations Centre (April 2007)

  9. Analogue Studies at MARS • Physical (geomorphology-geochemical), biological(microbiological), and technological (tools to study physical and biological environments) • Most heavily-studied aspect of MARS are the perennial springs (spans all themes) – but not the only theme • Physical – geology, ground ice, polygonal terrain, hydrology, hydrochemistry, limnology, etc.. • Biological – identification of bacterial communities and productivity within permafrost + springs • Technological - geophysics (GPR + CCR), in situ microscopy and chemical analyses, drilling,

  10. Initially this research program was concerned with the biophysical significance of perennial springs in high arctic polar deserts.

  11. Colour Peak – carbonate trough structures and travertines Biomineralization in High Arctic perennial Springs and the search for life

  12. Permafrost Drilling Projects Pollard & Whyte – CARN Briggs et al. - ASTID

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